Transferring positions prior to 1 year in first nursing job

[01.rn.10]

Hi everyone,

Is there anyone out there who has transferred or changed positions prior to their one year mark in their first rn position? I am currently in month 5 of my first nursing job and am seriously struggling with the schedule. I enjoy the job itself, my coworkers are awesome, and the leadership has been wonderful. I just can't seem to adjust to the rotating shifts. I knew going into it that I wouldn't be a fan of the required schedule (the past 10+ years of my life before I went into nursing, I worked Monday-Friday daylight, off weekends and holidays) but I wanted the experience of bedside nursing as a baseline or foundation. I was thinking that I'd be able to transfer after 6 months, but it seems a little more difficult to do that where I work as they really push for the full year. I really REALLY don't know if I have another 6 months of this in me. It's taking a toll on me emotionally. I'm exhausted. My sleep schedule is so messed up. I feel unhealthy. I'm having increased anxiety about it on top of the anxiety of being a new nurse. It's affecting my relationship since we struggle to align our schedules to see each other as much as we need to. I'm missing out on a lot of friends & family functions because most of them happen in evenings and on weekends which I work a lot of. And all of those things are extremely important to me. That's where most of my happiness comes from! I've been struggling with it since I started. I was hoping I'd adjust by now, but I'm not. I'm desperate to go back to a normal daylight schedule with weekends & holidays off (at least for the most part). I have already spoken with my clinician & unit director about my struggles twice, and they are willing to try to help with the schedule. But at the end of the day, the shifts that don't work for me are the requirements of the floor schedule, and I still have to work them. I'd feel so much better if I was working somewhere that doesn't require these rotating shifts. I'm also struggling with guilt feelings for trying to leave before a full year, like it's wrong of me to do so. But I feel like I'm not the only one in this boat, so I'm hoping for someone else who can relate or who has switched positions early! If anyone out there has, your story would really help me! Thanks in advance.

[MamaBeaRN]

I left my first position at 5 months, I went to another hospital that had a set schedule, 8's instead of 12's, and I was so glad I did! I felt human again. If someone is willing to take you, then go!

[01.rn.10]

Ahh thank you!! My other problem is that I have to stay with this hospital system for 2 years based on the sign-on bonus agreement I made when accepting their offer. I’m fine with staying within the same system. Just dying to feel normal again! The policy says that you can transfer positions prior to one year if you have permission from your supervisor. I don’t know if my supervisor will give me the permission especially since we are recently short two nurses and are about to lose another ? (not me, at least not yet haha)

[klone, MSN, RN]

What do you mean by rotating shifts? What does a typical pay period look like, with regards to your schedule?

[01.rn.10]

Rotating as in 12+ hour shifts rotating between daylight and night shift. It evens out to be 40-50 hrs per week with 4 days off, but that’s not always how it feels. It’s very sporadic. In a few weeks I’m scheduled to do six 12+ hour night shifts in 8 days. The end of one week going into the next

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Was this schedule discussed with you prior to you signing the contract? who do you feel should be working weekends? I am guessing you did not rotate during orientation so you are talking about leaving even giving the job a chance.

If you were a manager would you hire you over another candidate who did not want to break a contract?

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

You have to decide whether it is worth it to you to pay to get out of the contract. Rotating schedules are so unhealthy for anyone and I didn't know anyone even DID that anymore:) But if you're still young and strong, you can do anything to get through the next year if you want to save the money. But I'd be out of there the day the contract was up unless they offered regular days or regular nights.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Wait, how many shifts do you work a week? You're seriously working 40-50 hours a week? Four shifts a week?

[L-ICURN, BSN, RN]

5 hours ago, 01.newrn.10 said:

Rotating as in 12+ hour shifts rotating between daylight and night shift. It evens out to be 40-50 hrs per week with 4 days off, but that’s not always how it feels. It’s very sporadic. In a few weeks I’m scheduled to do six 12+ hour night shifts in 8 days. The end of one week going into the next

That 6 shifts in 8 days is a killer, but I've known people who do it just to get 8 days off afterwards.

Anyways...I've found that hospital nursing is simply not a world where you'll get weekends off, unless you're admin or you've been there the longest. Where I've worked, only charge RNs with seniority and administration got the weekends off. As for holidays, senior staff got them off and everyone else rotated. I know that sucks, but someone has to be there on the off days. And the person with the least amount of time in usually draws the short stick.

If you find that this isn't going to work for you, try for a transfer. But because you signed a bonus agreement, be prepared to stick out the time there, unless you can pay back the money.

[Swellz]

I am unable to resist responding to this without sharing my own story.

My first job was rotating, but it was two 12's and two 8's. So every third weekend (our assigned schedule), I had to work 64 hours in 7 days. I did not always rotate within that 7 day period, but frequently, I did - I'm talking two days, two nights, "day off", then two days, or vice versa.

I initially requested that my rotations be clustered, so I wasn't constantly going in and out of sleep schedules. Unfortunately, this was not accommodated by the scheduler because it was "too hard". Maybe it was, but I bet trying to find coverage for all the shifts I called out was hard too. End result was me getting written up for too many call-outs, and my NM allowing me to work three 12's the week before my weekend when the scheduler could arrange it. Didn't happen every time, but it did help.

If you really like your unit, which it sounds like you do, I would ask if they can cluster your shifts. One month on days, then one month on nights, etc, if you think that would be doable for you. Regardless, I would also bring up those long stretches as problematic for you. It might not be accommodated, but, your NM isn't going to want to lose a nurse they just invested training in if they can avoid it. It does not hurt to ask.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

On 6/27/2019 at 9:38 PM, 01.newrn.10 said:

Ahh thank you!! My other problem is that I have to stay with this hospital system for 2 years based on the sign-on bonus agreement I made when accepting their offer. I’m fine with staying within the same system. Just dying to feel normal again! The policy says that you can transfer positions prior to one year if you have permission from your supervisor. I don’t know if my supervisor will give me the permission especially since we are recently short two nurses and are about to lose another ? (not me, at least not yet haha)

I would go ahead and ask your supervisor--the worst that will happen is that he/she will say no.

Another option is to break your contract. However, you would be on the hook for repaying that sign-on bonus and then possibly being made a Do Not Rehire at that hospital or for the entire system...plus the fact that being new grad with less than a year's experience is a tough sell in this job market. Only you can decide if all of that is worth it.

IMO, if you can't make it through two years, at least try to stick it out for a full year. That way if you still feel like you need to jump ship before the contract is up, you'll be more appealing to employers if you have a year's experience under your belt. You may still owe them the bonus though...

Best of luck whatever you decide.

[01.rn.10]

Thank you everyone!! The transfer I’m thinking of would be within the same hospital system. The sign on bonus agreement is to stay with the same system for two years (I can change jobs, hospitals, etc as long as it’s within XXX). That was explained to me upon signing. I’m totally okay with staying within XXX for two years and not breaking that contract.

My struggle is with getting out of my current position prior to the one year mark. They really push for the one year but also make exceptions and waive that requirement at times and can allow you to change positions within XXX in less than 12 months. I’m not sure what all goes into making that decision.

I’ve already spoken with my managers about my schedule struggles, but not much is changing. And I don’t really expect that of them since I’m working what is required for the unit. That’s why I feel it’s best for me to switch to a position that doesn’t require the crazy hours.

I’m just hoping for some reassurance that it won’t be the end of the world if I switch early. And looking for others who have done the same!

Thanks again for all the feedback. I really appreciate it